Beinn Mheadhoin via the Shelter Stone

Beinn Mheadhoin is one of the Cairngorm's remoter peaks. This trip involves much ascent and descent just to reach the start of the climb; it passes through the magnificent Loch Avon basin.

Terrain

This is a testing mountain walk with a climb almost over the top of Cairn Gorm being necessary both on the way out and the way back. It passes through very remote country, lacking clear paths and far from help; a good deal of experience is necessary, especially in winter. There is some steep ground on the descent to Loch Avon and bouldery terrain on Beinn Mheadhoin itself.

Public Transport

Bus to Cairngorm ski centre from Aviemore.

Start

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Essentials page for basic information on the skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Users' reports

As well as reading our description of each walking route, you can read about the experiences of others users on this walk and others.There are 15 user reports for this walk - click to read them.

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at, or get the bus to, the large car park at the Cairn Gorm Ski centre (parking charge). Begin by heading up the track beside the funicular railway (starting between the station and the cafe building). Leave the funicular route at the half-way station and follow the track which zigzags right then back left up the west side of Coire Cas. After a sharp left look out for the start of a constructed path leading off right which climbs up onto the Fiacaill a' Coire Chais ridge. Continue easily up this ridge to the broken tor at the top of Fiacaill a' Coire Chais. From here you could easily make a diversion to include the summit of Cairn Gorm, but our route continues straight ahead, descending gently into the bowl of Coire Raibert. There is a path down this coire, and at the far end it begins to descend very steeply and rockily - take care - on the east bank of a cascading stream towards Loch Avon, with great crags and Beinn Mheadhoin visible across the loch.

Stage 2

Lower down look out for a path leading off on the far side of the stream - cross here and follow the path which makes a descending traverse heading towards the head of the loch. The Loch Avon basin is one of Britain's wildest and most awe-inspiring places. It can only be reached by either a climb over one of the surrounding mountains, or a truly epic walk for miles down the remote Glen Avon. At its head is a circle of great cliffs that forms the finest climbing ground in the Cairngorms.

Stage 3

Continue to the top of the loch beneath these cliffs, where there are several stunning beaches. This point can be reached by an alternative route from Coire Cas, via Coire an t-Sneachda and the 'Goat Track', and then a descent of Coire Domhain. The 'Goat Track' is however often banked out by snow into summer, and even then is unpleasantly loose with the danger of rockfall from above, but this route does avoid the ski-developments.

Stage 4

From the beach at the head of the loch, take a narrow path that heads towards the huge vertical block of Shelter Stone crag. It soon crosses the stream flowing into Loch Avon; this crossing can be difficult or even impassable when in spate. Beyond it the path begins to climb once more for some distance towards the crag, before weaving back left towards the Allt nan Stacan Dubha. It is possible to make a short detour further right from the bend to visit the Shelter Stone - a truly enormous fallen boulder, marked by a cairn on the top.

Stage 5

Known in Gaelic as Clach Dion, the boulder is held up by many smaller stones to create a hollow underneath that can accommodate about five people. The resulting cave has been used as a refuge for centuries. The floor is flat enough for sleeping although many find that having a 1360 ton balanced rock immediately above their noses just a little claustrophobic; others prefer to camp. Return to the path to continue the ascent, steeply for a time. As path path comes closer to the stream the gradient eases off and crosses some wetter ground. It continues to ascend gently, and Loch Etchachan comes into view over to the right - a suprisingly large sheet of water at over 900 metres. Before the path begins to descend, turn off left making an initially pathless ascent.

Stage 6

Eventually a path from the Loch Etchachan outflow is joined and the plateau of Beinn Meadhoin is reached. Continue along it to the first of the series of tors - known as the Barns - which distinguish Beinn Mheadhoin. This low one overlooks Loch Avon and gives a good view of the larger ones to follow on the walk to the summit, across sandy terrain, almost desert or tundra-like, , blasted by the winds.

Stage 7

In thick mist the larger tors can help with navigation as you take a bearing from one to the next to make progress towards the top, and even in clear weather most walkers will detour to visit them. The summit of the mountain, at a mighty 1182 metres, is atop the largest tor towards the northeastern end - a truly massive block of granite. To reach the true top a short, reasonably easy scramble is necessary, accessed via the far side of the tor.

Stage 8

Much hard work remains to return to the car park, as the glacial trough of Loch Avon must be crossed once more. You can either return by the exact same route, descend to the foot of Loch Avon and up to the Saddle before heading back over Cairngorm, or perhaps even extend the day further by heading to the outflow of Loch Etchachan and return via Ben Macdui. Whichever route is chosen a substantial ascent cannot be avoided.